Promenading on the West Sands

[Donald]

West Sands (as opposed to East Sands!) is the beach area at the west side of St Andrews (again, golfing fans, the famous Old Course is just out of shot to the left and over the other side of those sand dunes ).

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in the summer, this scene would be a LOT busier. But I still had this vision of ants going about their business.

This is, frustratingly, not quite hitting the mark for me and I'm not sure why. Maybe the composition is not strong enough. But at least it shows the Sunday afternoon social behaviour of those who inhabit and visit St Andrews on a beautiful, but cold, day in February!

[ionian]

Donald - beautiful image that documents the scene well, and the people provide a lovely contrast to the ethereal scene in the background. As to why you feel it doesn't quite hit the mark - I wonder if, for this particular image, the negative space at the top is too large, and also the path that your eye takes around the image is quite horizontal and linear. I've though about crops but can't see anything that would work without losing something from the scene in the foreground.

I have a fledgling idea that it could make a beautiful triptych but I'm not sure how you would present that digitally, and you may need to clone out a few people.

[Donald]

I have a fledgling idea that it could make a beautiful triptych but I'm not sure how you would present that digitally, and you may need to clone out a few people.

Now, that sounds interesting.

[Dave Humphries]

This is, frustratingly, not quite hitting the mark for me and I'm not sure why. Maybe the composition is not strong enough.

Hmmm, I think you need to 'diminish' the people to get to the 'ants'.

I don't think this is 100% possible in PP from this shot.

If mine, I'd clone out the two people in lower right corner, they are too big and identifiable - leave the dark sand/seaweed? area empty.

Then you need to have more 'scene' - ideally more beach, but I'd actually even suggest more negative space sky - which might be possible by extending the canvas to make it square - you do remember what a square is, don't you?

At the risk of a cliché, you could do the 'model effect'; significantly blur either side of the strip of image with the 'ants', but I'm not keen on it myself, so why I am even suggesting it is beyond me.

HTH, Dave

[ScoutR]

Hi Donald: I notice more and more that you are changing things up with your photography. That's a good thing but could be why this is not quite hitting the mark with you.

When I first looked at this shot, I though the same as Simon, that in this particular case there was too much sky, which in this shot does not add to the atmosphere of the scene as I think the attention is the people, somehow the big sky does not help. If it was just the beach with the people and then big sky, I think it would be different. The big sky would make the people look smaller, but with the trees and the mountain range it does not have that effect. Just thinking out loud, I don't really know anything.

Then I read Dave's post, and I think what he suggested - going back to the square format with even more sky could work. I'm Not sure, I would have to see it, but in my minds eye it makes sense. I too am used to seeing your shots in square format, so this is something for myself and the rest of us to adjust to also.

Two other things and I could be way off base. If so just ignore me.
I was wondering if the mountain range could be burned in just a bit
On my screen there seems to be a dark vignette in the sky, that does not do anything for the shot. Might be just my screen though.

Speaking of Formats, my mind goes back to your posts of the Ainster Harbour. I remember when I saw those shots, I was thinking that Landscape format might work better for those, so we could get more of a sense of the ocean to the left and where the spray was coming from and where it was going to the right.

[Shadowman]

Has a nomadic journey look to the capture, the singular figures in white and the two figures in the grayed area stand out a bit too much; but it is what it is. I think compositionally, the figures are walking on too straight of a path, would have been a bit more dramatic/dynamic if grouping was captured on an angle. Nice conversion and capture.

[marlunn]

was not so much thinking 'ants' was more thinking Lowrey - make them more 'matchstick', personally there are too many for my liking - A reduced number of people may work better?

[Donald]

Excellent feedback. Thank you all. Keep it coming. If we take the time to think about what peers are saying, we can always learn.

Fascinatingly (in respect of those who mentioned a square format), this is how I saw the scene originally and indeed I've got a TIF in 1:1 ratio. But thought there was too much sky, so went back and re-cropped a virtual copy of the RAW file and re-processed.

Maybe I'll take through to a JPEG and finish it off.

There's a lesson in that for me about sticking to original plans and not changing them half way through the image-making process. Indeed, this was, I think, part of my dis-satisfaction. I have not changed my mind like this in a long, long time and that in itself says something about my lack of satisfaction about the captured photograph. If I shoot something to be a presented as a square image, then that is how it is composed and that is the way it stays.

Otherwise, I think all the contributions above have been so constructive and all are very valid. Thank you.

[Wavelength]

Very nice image

[NorthernFocus]

Donald, the studies that you are pursuing must have really re-invigorated your photography. You've certainly been posting a lot recently and I agree with other comment that the style of recent shots is definitely changing.

My thoughts on this particular shot... First, had you not mentioned it, I'd never know it was a beach scene. Somehow a beach without the ocean included just doesn't seem right. Also without your explanation of what was intended, I'd have thought the main subject of the photo was the two people at lower right. Simply due to the fact that they jump out at me as being bright against the darker BG whereas most of the other people are dark against a lighter BG and indeed appear as ants.

For what it's worth...

[ionian]

Now, that sounds interesting.

Done very roughly as a proof of concept

[Donald]

Wow .... as they say.

Would love to have others come in a give their thoughts.

[NorthernFocus]

Great idea. Each frame is a picture unto itself yet collectively make a whole. Great eye to recognize the potential, Simon.

[Dave Humphries]

Wow .... as they say.

Would love to have others come in a give their thoughts.

Yes, the triptych is a good alternative.

btw - I agree with Wendy about doing something with the mountains, it was the fact that they are so low contrast and soft (as are the trees) that gave me the idea for the 'model effect' suggestion - which distracted me from what I was going to say

[rpcrowe]

I like this image as a wide pano, cropping out the majority of the sky above the mountains...

[IzzieK]

I have nothing much to contribute as has already been said, but I like the triptych of Simon. Very interesting how it turned out there.

[ShaneS]

I have looked a this a couple of times now and I think that as the images is composed that Simon's concept of a triptych takes it up a notch in a very good way!

I think that if you chose to present it as a the triptych this it may require a modification of the the vignette that you put on the image. I agree with what others have said about the background mountains and note that where the existing vignette is applied that they have a bit more punch. So, if it were mine I might consider removing the oval vignette and replacing it with a graduated vignette from the top. Alternatively, simply burn in to your taste over the mountains and trees so that they have more presence.

It is nice to see you spreading your wings and compositions beyond the square Donald so don't give up on the concept quite yet.